New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-25
srEERAGE PASSENGERS COMPLAIN.
TROUBLE AT THE WHITE STAR OFFICE.



DISSATISFACTION WITH PAYMENTS FOR LOST BAG
GAGE-THE CELTIC IN THE DkY-DocK
There were symptoms vi q riot on small scale IN
the steerage Office of the White Star Line at No. Al
Broadway yesterday. Those OF the Storage passen-
gers of the Britannia who lost their baggage through
the collision between that steamship and the Celtic
last Thursday were being remnneraed ina slght way
tor their actual losses and most OF them were not at
oil backward in expressing their sentimeats at the
far from generous way IN which they were being
trpated They had made detailed statements OF their
effects and the value of each article on Monday and
had expected to receive at least enough money TO re-
place necessary clothing. but when they found that
the company was Unwilling to pay more than from
to 20 Der cent the lowest possible estima te OF
their losses they rebeled and went so tar as TO
threaten to revenge themselves by wiping the floor
with the clerks in the Oiice. little argument con-
ynced them that this would do them 10 particular
good and might get them deeper into trouble twenty
thirty OF them insisted. however, upon getting tar
value tor the goods and refused to accept the pit
offered them They will apply to the courts tor
redress About 200 were paid during the dag, re-
oeiving an average OF S2O each. All were required TO
sign document exempting the company from all
further responsibility before the money was paid
them s. s. Cortis. the general passenger agent OF the
line, particularly impressed upon each one as he
handed him order tor presentation to the cashier
that the company did not consider itself liable tor
any of tho losses, out that it merely dispensing
the money as an act OF charity.
the compartment occu pied by them that the greatest
damage was done and all claimed to be in needy
circumstances Some baggage belonging 10 women
astray or was ruined by the "ater and 1t Was
with the of this that Mr. Cortis bad tue most
trouble in settling. Rosa RUIZ an intelligent young
Cuban girl, on her way from Havana TO London, was
among the largest claimants. Her baggage con-
taned be sides four silk dresses which she valued at
$40 zach, box holding three gold watch chains three
rings several medals and lot OF gold trlnkets which
she thought were worth fully $3.50. The 40
offered to her by Mr.. Cortis looked pretty small as an
offset to all this inery and she deilbsrated long
time before accepting it, Mrs. Jane Williams OF Fall
River placed the value of her clothing at $o5 and
She too. received only $50 One man was honest
enough 20 say that all he Loaf was not worth more
than 30, and he probably the only one whose
claim was paid full Mr.. Cortis said that he was
greatly surprised at the extensive wardr obes and
large amount. OF jewery winch some OF the poorest
looking men claimed to have possessed
MANY OF the Britannics steerage passengers and
few from the salovn sailed yesterday in The Guion
Line steamship Arizona. The City of Rome OF tho
Anchor Line will curry as many more to-day. The
largest proportion Of the se'ond-class Passengers,
however, VIII make the passage i'll the White Star
steamship Arabic. which sails on Saturday morning
The Celtic, which went to her pier early on Monday
morning. relieved of her cargo before night and
basin in South Brooklyn. She was taken upon the
Boston dry dock there and workucn began at once
to repair her badly battered bow She will probably
be ready to sail again in about fortnight The
Britannia which crossed the bar ut Sandy Hook on
Monday evening and anchored in the North River OIL
West FouIteenth-s during the night, took the place
of the Celtic aJng ide the White Star pier yesterday
Most OF her cargo was taken out With the excep-
ton the grain in the broken fourth compartment It
wns found - be little damaged. a large crowd
gathered along the river trout ncar the pier 10 get
view OF the hole in the big boat but they were disap-
| pointed. The port side, on which the damage VAS
done, was concealed from view by the wharf shed.
and no visitors permitted to 90 on the pier The
officials OF the line in qusndary as to how to get
the Britannia repaired in time to resume her trips
next month The only available dry dock about here
large enough to carry her will be occupied by the
Celtic Tor at least two weeks and in the meantime it
la cnuld ha IN ard
the lirtanniq in shape tor VOYAGES
J. y. Ismay the NewfOrk agent OF the line, SAID
that 1t impossible ut present to make an estimate
OF the losses sustained by the company Though the
| accident The report that the Brltannlc had been
| libeed salvage by tho steamships Marengo' CT
| the Wilson Line and British Queen OF the lnman
| Line which accompanied her and the Celtic tor two
DAYS after the collision matter OF preca1tiOn In
| case of a storm or further danger, he pronounced
TO be false lie stIl persists Ia refusing to give to
the public the statements made by Captains Irving
| and Perry claiming that the whole matter ~ one TO
be settled bv the and managefs OF the line.
Captain Perry absolutely refused Ia discuss the COLI
sion with reporters. Neither he nor Captain Irving
appeared Mt the British Consulate YESTERDAY Acting
Consul Hoare said that he expected TO have state
menta from them to-day and that he would refer the
subject to the British Board OF Trade tor settlement
Nautical men generally agree in the opinion that the
chief blame for the collision rests tn the Objects OF
the Britannc since there Is little doubt that she was
forging ahead through the og at good rate OF speed
| and changed her course sndd-nly when the Celtics
| wbistle was heard while the latter moved slowly
when the log in about her and stopped her al gnes
altogether several minutes before tte "od's came
| together.
The condition of all the in jured people WAS favor
oble yesterd,y and il ia not believed hat the number
| OF def tbs resulting from the accident viii be in
creased.